Part III: Features of a Plat

Survey features

Sections which were completely surveyed are drawn with solid black ink lines
delineating the section square with the section number in the center (e.g. Sec.
10) in light black ink. When sections were not actually surveyed the section
is bordered by a dashed line or no lines at all. Example:

In the section block, the acreage for each section or subsection is given
and the total for the Section. Standard acreage covered would be 640 acres per
section and this figure is often placed in a section not completely surveyed
but assumed to be 640 acres. The acreage figure may not be indicated or may
be other than 640 (e.g. 574.81). This happens when portions of the section are
not included in the measurement given unsuitability to farm ("mountain land"),
or the section may not be surveyed at all, or the section actually measures
less or more than the standard 640 acres. Subsections may also be delineated with measurements noted within a box.
40, 80, 320. (Figure 6)

Compass bearing figures taken in the field by the surveyor are often found
within the section. Note in Figure 7 the figure S89’ 53’W and, on Figure 10, S89’ 49’W.

On the side of the map, the total ("Aggregate") acreage of the township is
usually cited (Figure 7) and often indicates portions of acreage of "mtn. land"
not included in the measurement and estimates of acreage containing mineral
land deposits or other use.

The standard manmade features include roads often labeled "grades" and "toll
roads" and indicated by a dashed or solid line or parallel lines on later maps
for more substantial roads. Many are labeled: Humboldt Road and Road
to Virginia City, Figure 6.

Also found are solid thin lines for man-made water features such as ditches.
and irregular or saw-tooth lines for fences. Figure 8.

Black squares for buildings may be labeled house, with multiple blocks together
for towns. Dayton, Figure 8. Individual houses may be labeled as to owner:
Howes House, Figure 8.

Cultivated fields may be indicated as a block with diagonal lines or just
a patch with diagonal lines and labeled "field." Wheeler’s field, Figure
9.

Telegraph lines are indicated by dash-dot Lines. Figure 8

Businesses or other stand-alone commercial activity, are usually indicated
by a black square for the structure and are often labeled: Birdsell Mill
and Illinois Mill in Figure 8, Pacific Borax Co's Mill in Figure
10.

Details of the survey, by whom and when, and dates of acceptance of
the survey by the General Land Office, Surveyor General and other official
bodies, are given in the margins of the plats of the State Lands office (Figure
12).

Terrain Features

To aid in defining an area, minimal physical features are drawn on the map
and more significant ones are labeled; e. g. field, streams, dry creeks, ditches,
gulch, ravine, draw, dry wash, and deep rocky canyon, often with an arrow pointing
down-slope. Figures 8 and 15. Larger water features may be colored: Carson
River on Figure 9.

To indicate elevation gain prior to the use of contour lines, several techniques
are found on these maps:

The technique of hachuring uses short lines to indicate direction of slope
but does not give specific altitude information. Note the "High Peaks" on Figure
13 and the downslope hachures in Figure 14. Where hachures were used around
section borders, they probably indicate overall mountainous or hilly terrain:
Figure 17.

Probably the classic application of hachures used to depict the north-south
trending mountain ranges of Nevada has been referred to by the 19th century
geographer C. E. Dutton as "an army of caterpillars crawling toward Mexico"
as depicted in Figure 14.

Shading, in Figures 13 and 16, would also be used to connote slope especially
along a ridge or embankment.

Specific points or features may be named: Crystal Peak, West Fork
of the Carson River; Massacre Creek; the names may have changed over
time.

The nature of the land, often noting the suitability for farming or other
use, may be indicated by descriptive labeling: Mountain Land unfit for Cultivation,
Figure 6; Bottom Land, Figure 8; Volcanic Mts., Figure 16; Mineral Land, Figure 17.

Patent Record Numbers

Many of the maps in this set contain historic patent record numbers (the
initial title deed received for federal government lands) usually within a red
penciled box delineating the area of the patent. Note Patent # 7538 below, Figure
18.

This number – 7538 - corresponds with the actual patent (deed) record filed
in the Nevada Division of State Lands and now housed in the Nevada State Library
and Archives. The black number(s) in the same box ( e. g. 16065) is usually
the application number given when the claim was initially filed and not relevant
in this presentation.

Enter the patent number – e. g. 7538 – in the search box
for the Patent # on the State Lands Patent Database Query Page. The Results
Page indicates the Patentee, the person to whom the land was deeded, to
be Mrs. Hulda Fiegley in 1913.

*Volume and Page numbers refer to patent books at the
Nevada State Library and Archives. For a copy of the original patent, please
contact Archives and Records at (775) 684-3310.

For a copy of the original patent, contact the
Nevada State Library and Archives: (775) 684-3310.